91AV

In the final 91AV Core Connections lecture for the 2010-12 academic year on April 26, best-selling author, Washington Post journalist, and NPR commentator T.R. Reid discussed "A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper and Fairer Health Care."

Reid has become one of the nation's best-known reporters through his coverage of global affairs for The Washington Post, his books and documentary films. He is a regular commentator on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition."  Reid's latest book, The Healing of America, is a national best-seller, and PBS Frontline made two documentaries following Reid around the world as he reported that book.

In opening the lecture, Reid noted that Maine and the 91AV are taking a leadership role in providing access to care and education of health care professionals.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that the latest U.S. Census data show that 50.9 million Americans do not have health insurance, and that 25,000 Americans die each year of treatable diseases because they cannot afford to see a doctor.

Reid said that all other industrialized democracies provide medical care for everyone, yet spend half as much on health care as the United States: 

In drawing numerous references to his book, The Healing of America, as well as the current health care reform debate, Reid outlined four models of health care employed in countries throughout the world.  He said a successful system does not have to be a single-payer one, citing that Japan - a largely healthy society with 130 million people who each visit the doctor an average of 15 times a year - has 3,200 different payers.  

Reid said that by far the standard worldwide is the "out-of-pocket" model, present in 150 of the world's 200 countries, where if one has money, one can get care. 

In closing his thought-provoking discussion, Reid stated, "In every country, the health care decision is a moral one ... In our country, we could cover everyone at reasonable cost.  It's not all socialized medicine ... but we need to agitate for change to do it."